Box-making machine.



Patnted Jan. 24, 1911.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

fz rcv'zkzr? G. D. PARKER.

BOX MAKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 1mm, 1909 wake/nay G. 1). PARKER. BOX MAKING MACHINE."

APPLICATION FILED JANA, 1909 Patented Jan. 24, 1911-.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.-

- G.. D. PARKER.

BOXMAKING MACHINE.

ARPLIUATION FILED JANA, 1909.

Patented Jam-24,1911.

I 5 SHEETS-811E111 3.

G. D. PARKER.

BOX MAKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 4. 1909 Pdt'entqd'Jan. 24, 1911.

W 4 a d Q 6 J G. D. PARKER.

BOX MAKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION TILED 1111.4, 1909v Patented an. 24, 1911.

[nvezfon a! 66 1 52523. P rive/ UNITED s'rarss PATENT ()FFICE.

GEORGE D. PARKER, OF RIVERSIDE, CALIFORNIA.

BOX-MAKING MACHINE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Gnonon D. PARKER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Riverside, in the county of Riverside and State ofCalifornia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Box-MakingMachines, of which the following is a specification.

Thisinvention relates to machines for making boxes; and it has for itsobject to provide an improved machine or mechanism for the purposestated which will be superior in point of durability of construction,positivcness of action, speed of operation, superiority of product oroutput, and general etliciency and serviceability.

In carrying out the invention, I provide a machine or mechanismautomatic in operation and the various members 'or parts of whichoperate in continuous sequence, rapidly producing and completing boxesduring the continuation of the feed of shocks or stock.

A particular object of theinvention consists in the provision of amachine for the purposes specified and particularly adapted for themanufacture of boxes, such as used in the storing and shipping oforanges.

The di'tl'erent parts or elements of the box products are initiallysupplied from chutes or hoppers; and the end pieces and partition piecefor each box are, fed edgewise 'into the machine and suitably clampedand held during the assembling operations. Pieces for one side of thebox are then supplied and nailed to the end and partition pieces. Thebox parts thus assembled are now partially inverted while the end andpartition pieces are still clamped. The side pieces for the second sideare then nailed to the parts abdve recited, and the partially formed boxis again partly inverted and athird side is added. The box is nowcompleted, except adding the cover to the same; and the latter isaddcdby hand after the box is packetlfi The product formed as above is nowejected from the machine.

The invention consists in the novel provision, construction,combination, association, and relative arrangement of parts, members andeatures, all as hereinafter de scribed, shown iii the drawings andfinally point d out in claims.

The present invention consists in certain Specification of LettersPatent.

Application filed January 4, 1909.

Patented J an. 24, 1911.

Serial No. 470,710.

specific improvements upon and departure from that covered in anapplication of the applicant for )atent for box inakin machines, filedMay 2, 1901, Seria No. 206,071; and the following description, as wellas the drawings, disclose the main features of construction andorganization dis closed in said prior application, as Well as thefeatures of improvement constituting the present invention. 7

In the drawings:--I igures 1 and 2 are perspective views lookingrespectively to' ward the front'and rear of a machine embodying theinvention; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a certain elevator memberincluded in the construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2, together withcertain of its-operative connections; Fig. 4 is a perspective view ofmechanism for feeding end and partition pieces; the same being embodiedin the showing in Figs. 1 and 2; Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view,partly in section of a detail of the construction shown in Fig. 4; Fig.6 is a perspective view, partly in section and partly broken away, ofcertain clamping mechanism and the operative connections of the same,constitutin features shown, in Figs. 1 and 2; Fig. is a perspective viewof apparatus for feeding the side pieces and operative connections ofthe same, partly broken away and'partly in section; Fig. 8 is asectional elevation of the elevator mechanism for feeding the 'endpieces and partition pieces, together with operative connections of thesame; Fig. 9 is a similar view taken at right angles to the line ofvision of Fig. 8, parts bein omitted; Fig. 10 is a detail View onenlarge scale showing devices for gripping the slde pieces; Fig. 11 isan enlarged detail view of mechanism for lowering the side pieces intoposition on the end pieces, the same be-' ing partly broken away andsectioned; Fig. 12 is an enlarged detail view of mechanism for partiallyinverting or turning the partially completed box; the same being partlysectioned; Fi 13 is a detail perspective view of a feature of theshowing inFig. 12; and Fig. 14 is a perspective view of a boxconstituting the product of the machine shown in the other figures.

Corresponding parts in all the figures are denoted by the same referencecharacters.

In the drawings. 1. 1 represent four up able source of power, andengaged with the shaft by any suitable clutch B, shown as operated by alever C rotating in its bearings c a rod 6 with an arm d. engaging theclutch mechanism. The shaft is provided with a suitable hand brake D,operated (by devices not shown) to resist motion when the vclutch isdisengaged. The shaft 3 car,- ries a pinion 5 which engages a gear 6upon a parallel shaft 7 and rotates the latter at a reduced speed.Through gears 8, 9, the shaft 7 rotates at one-third its own speed aparallel counter shaft 10, mounted in suitable bearings;

Upon the frame are secured devices "E, without novelty, for feedingnails to the nailing head'2 which reciprocates on rails 2 on thestandards 1 and is. actuated by the shaft 7 through gears 6, andconnecting rods 13 provided with turnbuckles 13 and attached to studs 2upon the nailing head.

The end and partition pieces are fed from hoppers or chutes A, in therear of the machine, a set of three pieces, in this instance,

being simultaneously pushed edgewise into the proper relative positionsupon an elevating device F which then raises them to position uponyielding nailing bases, where they are clamped in position to receivethe proper side pieces fed to position from another source. The base ofthe elevator consists of a horizontal rectangular frame 33*, whoseangles fit, respectively, in ways in the standards 1 and which normallyrests upon crossbars between the standards. From this base rise verticalmembers 33 which receive Upon their plane horizontal upper'edges,respectively, the vertical end and partition pieces of each box. g 7

Upon the rear side of the machine is a shelf 29", Fig. 4:, supportedupon suitable brackets approximately in the plane of the elevatormembers, the upper surface," of the shelf and the upper edges of themembers 33?, when the latter are in normal position, being insubstantially the sameplane. The

shelf supports inclined chutes 29 inflwhich,

respectively, are placed the two sets of end pieces and the set ofpartition pieces, all of which are designated by the numeral 29, all ofwhich stand on edge 'inplanes practically parallel to the elevatormembers 33", and all of which are urged toward the-lower endsof thechutes by springs 29". Theshelf is; further provided with vertical l tes29 lforming stops-at the lowerends o i the chutes each plate" beingprovided with a-suitable way to receive a slide 32 having a spring-dog32 to engage an end piece and a rigid arm 31 fixed to a shaft 31 mountedin bearings in brackets 31 on the base 1. The arms are made up of twooverlapped pieces connected by relatively fragile pins 100, so that anyfailure of the parts to feed properly will at most merely break thepins, which'are readily replaced. The arms are moved positively back andforth by means of eccentrics 28 upon the shaft 10, eccentric straps 28',rods 30, and a bar 31 connecting all the arms together. Against onelateral face of each elevator member 33 rests a spring plate 35 whichhas a curved end 35 to guide the entering end or partition piece, whlchnormally projects above said member, and. which is capable of verticalmovement in guides 39 upon said member. guides 38 at the lower side ofeach spring plate are secured rods 39 which pass downward through guides38 The spring plates are normally held in their uppermost positions bysprings 40 surroundingrods 39 between the guides 38 and bearing at theirupper end on stops 38. Guide plates 34 (F 1g. 9) are located above thenormal plane of the elevator and alongside therpaths of the enteringendand partition pieces, and in such position that said pieces enterbetween the spring plates 35 and these plates 34.

Two vertical plates 36 are located in front and rear of the elevator,respectively, (Figs. 3, 9) and are each provided with vertical slots 77corresponding to the number of members 33 and located alongside the samebut in each case upon the side opposite the corresponding plate 34. Inach slot is a sliding block 76 to ,which is adjustably sev cured apin 76whose lower end is guided in an aperture 76. Each pin bears a stop 79which is adjustable and wliich is pressed 'upward by a spring 7 8.reacting against the bottom of the slot and thus resisting depression ofthe block. Each block is provided with a pintle79 "'and; upon thepintles of each pair of hlocks'f-issupported a heavy 'nailingbase36whose wedgerlike, laterally projecting head 36' extends over the pathof the entering end piece,29, and is normally pressed against-the ,plate34 by a spring'or' springs 101. ,End and partition pieces having beenpushed in between the plates 34 and 35 to rest upon-the members 33.below the overhanging heads of the nailing bases, the elevator is atonce raised by means to be described.

The shaft 7 bears a loose clutch-member 15 and a clutch member 15splincd upon the shaftand thrown into and out of engagement withits'companion by the end 16 of a lever 16 centrally pivoted at 16 andhaving its opposite end swung back and forth by means of a groove 17 ina cam 17 on the counter shaft.

The clutch member 15 carries a rigid arm 33 which is connected by a link33 to an ear 33 on the base of the elevator. .Obviously, when the clutchis thrown into engagement by the cam 17, the rotation of the shaft 7 inthe proper direction swings the arm 33" and lifts the elevator-bodily.As

i it rises, the end and partition pieces 29 resting upon it pressagainst the lower inclined surfaces of the nailing base heads 36 pushingthem aside, the springs 101 yielding to permit the movement, and thenext instant the wedge-like margins of the spring plates 35 in likemanner push past the heads. When the stops 38 meet the lower portions 37of the nailing. bases 36, the spring plates c'ease'to ascend, while thesprings 40 yield and the elevator continues to rise. The elevator hascarried the pieces 29 high enough to permit the action, the nailingbases are swung beneath them, respectively, by the action of the springs101, the members 33" being cut away at a to allow the entrance of thewedge-like heads 36' at the moment when the elevator reaches the upperlimit of its path. In thus rising, the pieces 29 pass between sets ofclampin disks 21 '(Figs. 1, 6, 12) revolubly mounted upon the sides ofarms 24 and lying nearly in the planes of the elevator members 33,respec tively. At their opposite ends, the arms 24 are pivotally'mounted upon a cylindrical rod 25 supported in bearings 25.

I Upper and lower horizontal rods 26 and 27, respectively, pass throughthe arms 24. Each rod carries coil springs 26' and stops 27 acting uponand bearin against the arms 24, causing companion disks 21 to tend toapproach each other in gripping function. The shaft 25 is keyed in itsbearings. as at 25, and the hubs 24 of the arms 24 slide upon the shaft25.

A -collar'24" fixed upon the shaft 25 carlies a centrally pivoted lever22 from the upper end of each a link 22 extends'to a block 22 upon therod 26; and from a lower point on the upper end portion of which a link22 extends to a block 22 onthe lower rod 27. A connecting rod 23 extendsfrom the lower end of the lever 22 to a bell crank le'ver 23 which isoperated by a connecting rod 23 connected with a centrally pivoed lever23 provided with a boss 23 traversing a heart shaped cam groove 23 in acam 23", on shaft 10.' Oscillation-of the lever 22 by the cam 23", andimmediate arts oppositely moves therods 26 and 2?- endwise,;and

spreads apart the disks 21. The movements just described are so timedthat when the entrance of the nailing bases beneath the several end andpartition pieces has given each its proper support, each is instantlyclamped and held fixed awaiting the attachment of side pieces. The sidepieces are piled in a hopper or chute, in the rear of and above theclamped end and partition pieces, consisting of two U-shaped end guidesfacing each other (Fig. 7) and each having a vertically adjustablebottom 46 carried by a bar 47 sliding in mides 47 upon the outer facesof the end guides 43. Each bottom 46 is grooved above to receive thefree end of an arm .45 which bears two sets of clamps 45 (Fig. 10), eachadapted toseize and hold a side piece. The opposite ends of these armsare secured to a transverse rod 55 having its ends connected,respectively, by links 55, to levers 41 pivoted at 41 to brackets 41 andswung upon their pivots by eccentrics 12 whose straps 12 are pivotallyconnected to the lower ends of the levers 41. By this means the arms 45are caused to move back and forth longitudinally. For safety, the upperarm of the lever 41 is made in two parts which are connected by shearingpins 100.

The machine chosen for illustration uses two spaced side pieces for eachside of the box, and hence each arm 45 has two pairs of side piececlamps, as shown in Fig. 10. The terminal pair consists of two fingers56, 57, having opposing offsets or noses 102 in their upper edges andhaving their inner ends pivoted to the arm 45, one 57, by a pin 57' andthe other 56, by a pin 57" received in an elongated slot 58 permittinggripping boards of varying widths. Connected with each of the fingers 56is a depending link 56 pivotally connected with the arm 45 as at 56. Acontractile spring 61 extends from the innor end of eachfinger 56 to thearm 45; and a bent spring 60 acts upon each of the fingers 57, whichlatter are each provided with an enlarged opening 60 within whichroje'cts a pin 60'. The springs 60 and 61 ten to hold the noses 102above the arm 45 in osition to grip a board; and permit depression ofthe noses during the feed of the boards, of the side pieces. Forengaging the companion side pieces of the set of two, similar fingers62, 63 are pivoted at adjacent points at 69, and normally held raised bybent springs 64 and 64, respectively. Each of the fingers 62 and 63 hasan enlarged o ening 62" which receives a'pin 62" similar 1n function tothe pins 60 and 57", limiting the movements of the fingers 62' and 63upon depression of the noses 102 of the same during feed of the sidepieces. Side pieces being piled in the chute and the fingers 62, 63being so far for- I ward that they cannot grasp the lower beard of thepile, the arms 45 are moved rearward board until the noses 102 pass therear edge of the latter, when the spring throws it upward intoengagement with that edge. The

noses in the companion arm engage the opposite edge in like manner andthus the continued movement of the arms 45 causes the bottom board to bepulled from beneath the pile and to be instantly replaced by the next 51upon a sliding bolt 49 mounted adjacentv to the upper guide 47"; andentering an board above it, since the pile descends through the actionof grav1ty. This second board is engaged in the same manner by thefingers 56, 57 as the arms 45 continue to' move rearward, but it is notwholly with-. drawn from beneath the pile when the limit of rearwardmovement is reached. The arms now advance and carry both piecesto thefront of the chute until they are in position immediately above theclamped end and partition pieces. During this *movement, the secondclamped side piece enters again beneath the pile. before the first hasfully passedv therefrom, and as the noses 102' have a depth less thanthe thickness of the boards, only friction tends to carry the lowerunclamped board of the pile onward with the others. This unclampedboard. is prevented from advancing by spring fingers 75 beneath whichone board but not two superposed boards may pass freely. These fingersallow a thick board to pass, should such a board be in the pile. Theclamped side pieces after being thus advanced are non mall-y held alittle abovethe clamped end and partition pieces to which they are to benailed, and to lower them the bottoms 46 which support the arms 45 arelowered, through the action of the descending nailing head which strikesthe free ends of levers 44, pivoted at 50, to theguide upon the chute,or to other suitable support! The bars 47 supporting the bottom pieces46 are provided with bosses 52 resting normally upon sliding latches 53traversing the-lower guides 47. Flexible connections or chains54 extendfrom the latches 53' to therod 55.

The lever 44 is loosely engaged with a pin opening 49 in a bar 47 Thebar '47 carries a lateral buiter 47v which strikes the upper guide 47when the bar 47 descends when the arms 45 have moved toithepositionopposits that shown in Fig. 1?, so as to have received two sidepieces, the rod 55 pushes the latches 53 from beneath the bosses 52 andthe nailing heads descending strike the levers 44 and withdraw the bolts49 allowing: the arms 45ran'd ieces 46 to descend. The nailing headnails the side pieces fastthe instant after they are lowered to placeupon the end and partition pieces and then at once nesting alternatearms.

rises to normal position. As it rises the arms 45 return to the positionshown in Fig. 7, the latches 53 raise the rods 47, and the nailing headthrows the levers 44 to shoot the bolts and lock the arms 45 in raisedposition, or springs 44 may return the bolts 49. As has been seen, eachnailing base is suppbrted by springs 7 8, and these are stiff enough toresist ordinary nailing pressure but they yield when the nailing headmeets the wood after the nails are home; and indeed this isindispensable, for stock may vary in thickness. and necessarily innaillng on the third side we have beneath it both the pieces to which itis nailed and the side first nailed to the same piece. The nailing headbears spring'fingers 84 (Fig. 1) in position to adjust the side piecesaccurately in position at the instant preceding the nailing. The

first side having now been nailed in place,

the structure must be turned 90 to bring the next side to positionbeneath the nailing head, and this is done by devices best seen in Fig.12. As has been stated, the clamping disks 21 are revolubly mounted onthe arms 24 and the latter are formed into two sets by transverse rods26 and 27 con- Dne disk of each set bears on its lateral face, atquadrantal points, studs 69 provided with antifriction sleeves orrollers 69*, each of which in turn travels along an irregular portion67- of a plate 103, fixed to the machine frame parallel to the planes ofthe disks, and is at the same time compelled to advance through, anangular path of exactly 90. To secure this result, the arms 24 areperiodically raised and lowered by connecting rods66 (F1g. 12)

whose lower ends are p1votally connected with a centrally pivoted leverwhose opposite arms arev actuated by cams 11 upon the shaft 7.

The parts being in the positions illustrated in Fig. 12, upwardswinging-of the arm24 compels the lower right hand stud to passobliquely upward toward the left in a groove 68 in the p ate 103 andthen alon the lower side of a projectin finger/70 o the plate, whichpresses it sti l farther to the left and beyond the end of the groove.The arm-24 then reverses its direction of movement and; presses the studupon the inclined edge- 71- of the plate and forces it still farther tothe left until it reaches thelofi'set 7 2. Meantime, the next stud. hasdescended against 'the end,

ortion. of a latch 73-provided with an offset v 4, pivoted. to the plate103, and normally held in position to close thelower end of the groove 78-byaspring 104. V This second stud pushes the. latch aside while itselfurged to the left thereby, and finally reaches the precise positionoccupiedby the receding stud at the beginning of the movement, when thedisk will obviously have been rotated precisely 90 degrees. 'As the armsof each set are all connected and rotate or swing together, all theclamps have been simultaneously rotated to the same-extent and thepartially formed box has been turned exactly 90, While rising from andfalling back upon the nailing bases, and is now in position to receive asecond side or set of side' pieces. These are added precisely as before,the box is again turned, and the third and last side is similarly.added. At this moment, the cam 23 acts, releasing the clamping disks andleaving the .box free upon the nailing ba Immediately cams 18 (Fig. 1),on the counter shaft 10 eject the box from the machine, the cams actingthrough pins 19", in the cam grooves 18, arms 19" centered on the shaft7 and arms 19 projecting upward from the same into the space in the rearof the box and having at their upper ends pushers suitably beveled attheir ends. Simultaneously with the return of the ejectors to normalposition, the elevator raising clutch is disengaged and the elevatordescends by gravity, the eccentrics 28 operate to again feed end andpartition pieces, as at the outset, and thus the operation goes onrapidly, automatically and indefinitely so long as may be desired.

I do not desire to be understood as limiting myself to the specificprovision, construction, combination, association and relativearrangement of parts, members and features, shown and described; butreserve the right to vary the same, in adapting theimprovements tovarying conditions of use, without departing from the spirit of theinvention, or the terms of the following claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent:

1. In a machine of the character described, means for feedin spacedtransverse box pieces, means for eeding side pieces, means for securingthe side pieces upon the transverse box pieces; said means for feedingthe side pieces comprising a hopper or chute having vertically movablebottom pieces, latches for said bottom pieces, arms slidable on saidbottom pieces, a rod connecting said arms and flexibly connected withsaid latches, means for moving said rod, and bolts for retaining saidbottom pieces in elevated positions; said boltsbeing withdrawn inthemovement of the nailing heads whereby theside' pieces are secured tosaid transverse box pieces.

2, In a machine of the character described, means for feedin" spacedtransverse box pieces, means for fbeding side pieces, means for securingthe side pieces upon the trans verse box pieces; said means for feedingthe side-pieces comprising a hopper or chute having vertically movablebottom pieces, latches for said bottom pieces, arms slidable on saidbottom pieces, a rod connecting said arins and flexibly connectedwithsaid.

latches, means for moving said rod, and

spring controlled bolts for retaining said bottom pieces in elevatedpositions; sald bolts being withdrawn in the movement of the nailingheads whereby the side pieces are secured to said transverse box pieces.

cans for feeding spaced transverse box eces, means for feeding sidepieces, means for securing the side pieces upon the transverse boxpieces; said means for feeding the side pieces comprising a hopper orchute having vertically movable bottom pieces, latches for said bottompieces, arms slidable on said bottom pieces, a rod connecting said armsand flexibly connected with said latches, means for moving said rod, andbolts for retaining said bottom pieces in elevated k3. In a machine ofthe character described,

positions; said bolts being withdrawn in the movement of the nailingheads whereby the side pieces are secured to transverse box pieces; saidlatches raising said bottom pieces and arms during return movements ofthe arms.

4. In a machine of the character described, means for feedin spacedtransverse box pieces, means for eedmg side pieces, means for securingthe side pieces upon the trans-- versfbox pieces; said means for feedingthe side, pieces comprising a hopper or chute having vertically movablebottom ieces, latches for said bottom pieces, arms shdable on saidbottom pieces, a rod connecting said arms and flexibly connected withsaid latches, means formoving said rod, and bolts for retaining saidbottom pieces in elevated positions; said bolts being withdrawn in themovement .of the nailing heads whereby the side pieces are secured tosaid transverse box pieces; said arms being provided with PIV-otejd-spring-controlled fingers having noses normally rojecting abovethe arms and arranged to e engaged with the side pieces.

5 In a machine of the character described, means for feedin spacedtransverse box pieces, means for ceding side pieces, means for securingthe side pieces upon the transverse box pieces; said means for feedingthe side pieces comprising a hopper or chute having vertically movablebottom pieces, latches for said bottom pieces, arms slidable on saidbottom pieces, a rod connecting sa d arms, and flexibly connected withsaid latches, means for moving sald rod, and bolts for retaining saidbottom pleces 1n elevated positions; said bolts being withdrawn inthermovement of the nailing heads whereby the' side pieces are securedto said transverse box pieces; said arms belng provlded with pivotedspring-controlled fin ers having noses normally projecting a ove ,thearms and arranged to be engaged with the side pieces; there being twosets of fingers 6. In a machine of the character described, a chute orhopper for feeding box side pieces, spaced arms upon which the box sidepieces are disposed, means for moving said arms endwise, latchesnormally maintaining said arms against downward movement, and operativeconnections whereby said latches are moved in movements of saidarmsysaid latches serving to-elevate said arms during endwisemovement ofthe same.

7. In a machine of the character described, means for feeding spacedtransverse box pieces, and an elevator for presenting said transversebox pieces in position for receiving box side pieces; said elevatorcomprising a rectangular frame; said frame having side ames plates andspring plates adjacent to the edges of the same, and, guiding the boxpieces upon said edges; said spring plates being supported by rods, saidframe having 20 guides receiving said rods, stops on said rods, andsprings surrounding said rods and disposed between said stops andcertain of said guides.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my 25 name to this specification inthe presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

GEORGE D. PARKER.

Witnesses RAYMOND Ivns BLAKESLEE, FRED A. MANSFIELD.

